Repetitive Suicidal Crises: Characteristics of Repeating versus Nonrepeating Suicidal Visitors to a Psychiatric Emergency Service

Abstract

The present study involves a retrospective chart review of all patients who visited the Emergency Mental Health Service during the period of July, 1, 1985 to June, 30, 1986 (total visits = 2,772). It compares those ‘suicidal’ patients seen only once during the index year with those seen multiple times (comparison of first visit only for both ‘one-timers’ and ‘repeaters’). The ‘repeaters’ were generally found to be older and were more likely to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia and personality disorder. Unlike previous studies, substance abuse and affective disorder did not significantly differentiate the two groups. The ‘repeaters’ were also more likely to be taking antipsychotic and antiparkinson medications, have histories of past psychiatric hospitalizations in the public sector, be living alone, and most importantly, to have made a previous suicide attempt.

Suicide-related crisis presentations to a rural emergency department: A retrospective cohort study

“…Individuals who presented in suicidal crisis on more than one occasion were classified a ‘repeating-patients’. Based on Peterson and Bongar’s 10 definition of chronicity, individuals who had four or more presentations were defined as ‘chronic repeating-patients’.…”

The Role of Objective Personality Inventories in Suicide Risk Assessment: An Evaluation and Proposal

“…Critical to this decision is the discrimination of the relative contributions of acute clinical states and more pervasive personality characteristics (Bongar, 1991;Goldsmith, Fyer, & Frances, 1990). Research relative to personality functioning in suicidal samples indicates significantly increased incidence of personality disorder diagnoses among both suicide attempters and ideators (Barraclough, Bush, Nelson, & Sainsbury, 1974;Cantor, 1976;Hawton, 1987;Lall, 1994;Peterson & Bongar, 1990;Schuckit & Gunderson, 1974;Seager, 1986;Wade, 1987). Additionally, behaviors characteristic of personality pathology (e.g., interpersonal conflict, self-destructive behavior, attention-seeking, etc.)…”

Repetition of Parasuicide: A Predictive Study

“…Research on parasuicide has shown that a number of variables discriminate between repeaters and nonrepeaters when they are compared retrospectively. Compared to nonrepeaters, repeaters more often suffer from some kind of psychiatric disorder, have received psychiatric treatment or been in contact with some health service, abuse alcohol andlor drugs, live alone, are unemployed or economically inactive, and have experienced suicidal behavior in their family (Bagley, 1970;Bagley & Greer, 1971;Barnes, 1986;Buglass & Horton, 1974a;Gupta et al, 1992;Kotila & Lonnqvist, 1987;Krarup, Nielsen, Rask, & Petersen, 1991;Kreitman & Casey, 1988;Kreitman & Foster, 1991;Morton, 1993;Ojehagen, Regn611, & Traskman-Bendz, 1991;Peterson & Bongar, 1990;Petrie, Chamberlain, & Clarke, 1988;Reynolds & Eaton, 1986;Stephens, 1987;Tuckman, Youngman, & Kreizman, 1968;Worden & Sterling-Smith, 1973).…”